Page 10 of Found Through Fire

“It doesn’t really matter what they think or want. We don’t care about territory, and we don’t need to pay for their ‘protection’ like the other businesses here. I think Dad just doesn’t want to start anything right off the bat. With any luck, shit will stay civil until they try to offer their ‘protection’ to your businesses,” answers Tell.

A laugh escapes from my throat. “I can’t wait for that meeting. Part of me wants to be there, but I still don’t want people to know I’m the boss. Maybe I can pretend to be an assistant or something so I can still watch.”

Teller starts laughing, too. “I would go to that meeting just to watch you try and hold in your smart-ass comments.”

“Me too! It always looks like you’re constipated when you try to hold back your inner bitch,” Ben feels the need to add.

“Ehh, being a bitch is fine as long as you can back it up,” I remind them for the millionth time. “And I prefer the term ‘situational bitch.’”

“I did notice Jackson has a custom bike shop in town when I did the background check. I’m sure he’ll love being in competition with your shop,” Gig says as he goes to the fridge to grab a beer for himself and the other idiots. He knows I’m not a drinker, so he grabs me a bottle of water.

They are weird about giving me water to try and counteract all the coffee I drink on a daily basis. I think they secretly hope I’ll have less of an attitude if I’m fully hydrated. I try not to kill that dream for them yet; everyone deserves to have hope.

“He builds bikes, I fix anything with a motor. Those are two totally different things. I’m sure we can coexist. And background check?” I ask as I take the water from Gig and twist off the cap.

“If you think I was sending my little sister out and not having all the information, maybe we’ve been apart for too long,” he says while rolling his eyes like I’m stupid. Maybehissassy ass needs the water instead of me.

“That is so sweet, in the creepiest way! You do care! But I feel like I should remind you that I’m actually two hours older than you guys and can take care of myself,” I throw in to make a point. But I love the fact that my slightly creepy, overprotective brother with stalker tendencies is finally home.

“Clearly we are going off height and maturity,” Tell adds.

“So, how do you explain Ben?” I ask, nodding my head to where Ben’s standing.

“No one can explain Ben, but he is still taller than you,” Gig replies with a shrug.

“Hey! I’m just as mature as you guys! I just don’t have a stick up my ass!” Ben shouts with his mouth full of chocolate chips that he’s clearly been shoveling in his mouth since I sat on the counter and left them unprotected.

“Okay, I’m going to go get changed into something that’s not a fucking dress. Can you listen for the timer to go off and put the next tray in? And don’t let Ben eat them all. He wouldn’t stop bitching about his stomachache for the rest of the night last time,” I say as I hop off the counter and walk out of the kitchen.

I need to put on comfy clothes if I’m talking to my dad and Uncle Mark. I’m just happy that they didn’t leave for Tennessee before I came back. Then again, I don’t see Aunt Jaz or Sophia leaving without saying goodbye first. They came to my mom’s memorial and stayed for a few days.

I feel like they would’ve let me know if it was a big deal, but I need to see if this changes anything with the situation withLL and the sperm donor. I snort a laugh when I realize that it sounds like they are a ‘90’s hip-hop group. My brothers look over at me, and I shake my head. I need to hurry, because they are bottomless pits and will eat everything once they come out of the oven. Missing out on the apple cider at the coffee house was one thing, but if I miss out on cookies too, mother fucking heads will roll!

CHAPTER 4

WILLOW

Iopen the door to my room—the one that Mom decorated for me. That woman knew all her kids’ personalities so well; we felt right at home the first time we walked through the door. Everything from the lavender walls and the dark hardwood floors, to the giant, plush, white area rug that takes up almost the entire room fits me perfectly. She made sure I had a reading nook in the corner, and a wall of built-in bookshelves. That saint of a woman even put in a rolling ladder so my extra ass could have aBeauty and the Beastkaraoke moment.

My brothers didn’t get to see their rooms until they came home after Mom passed. They locked themselves away for hours, probably trying to feel close to her. When they finally came out, they found Dad and I in the kitchen, having a family binge-eating session. We didn’t talk about the overwhelming absence that we all felt. Maybe not the best form of family healing, but at the end of the day, I think just being together does it for us.

I take off my cute, stupid, nonfunctional dress. I like girly stuff, I just don’t understand why it needs to be uncomfortable. My mom tried to teach me how to act and feel more feminine,but at the end of the day, I’d rather spend the time with my brothers and dad, sparring, shooting, or working on cars.

I throw on my jean shorts, a black tank top, and my favorite multicolored fluffy socks. They are loud and obnoxious, which represents me perfectly. I head back towards the kitchen, and the three idiots are exactly where I left them, but they’re now joined by Dad and Uncle Mark.

My dad looks just like my brothers. He’s a giant, and has the same chiseled jaw, long angular nose, and smile. But his hair is black instead of brown, and more silver has peppered through it as the years have gone on. He is also blessed with one of those year-round tans that I will always be jealous of. He has broad shoulders, and is just as built as my brothers.

He should just accept that I don’t want a dad that other people find attractive. If I hear one more person call my dad a “silver fox,” there will be casualties.

I walk over to him, and he immediately pulls me into a hug. I’ll always be a daddy’s girl, and everyone in this house knows it.

“Hey, baby girl. How’d it go?” my dad asks after I hold the hug for another minute.

“He’s a twat-waffle. I don’t need to claim any new brothers. I’m already stuck with the idiots. I don’t think I can take on any more. I’m not a freaking saint,” I say, gesturing towards said idiots shoving cookies that just came out of the oven in their faces.

“Let’s just hold that thought until he has time to process it. I’m sure it was a lot of information for him, and who knows if he’s even open to looking at it. But you know your mother. If anyone could do it, she would be able to give him comfort even when she’s gone,” he says while kissing the top of my head, like he has done all my life, before releasing me from his hug.

I look over at Uncle Mark, leaning against the kitchen counter and holding a beer. “I’m glad you and Aunt Jaz haven’t left yet. I need to ask you about something.”